Laparoscopic surgical clamp and suturing methods

Abstract

A method of occluding a patient's organ tissue during a minimally invasive surgical procedure is disclosed. The method includes providing a laparoscopic surgical clamp; passing distal end of surgical clamp into an opening of patient's body cavity; probing patient's tissue by moving first set and second set of double jaws of the surgical clamp between opened and closed positions; selecting tissue appropriate for being occluded with surgical clamp and suturing; clamping tissue with surgical clamp; passing at least one elongated suture into patient's body cavity with laparoscopic grasper; threading suture through a plurality of fenestration on at least one of upper portions of double jaws; puncturing patient's tissue with suture; threading suture through fenestration of at least one of the lower portions of double jaws; and clipping each end of suture on upper and lower portions of double jaws for securing the patient's tissue in a compressed position.

1 . A method of occluding a patient's organ tissue during a minimally invasive surgical procedure, comprising: 
 providing a laparoscopic surgical clamp, comprising: 
 an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;  
 a first set and a second set of double jaws connected to the distal end of the elongated shaft and moveable relative to one another, the first set and second set of double jaws comprising:  
 an opened position wherein the first set and second set of double jaws are separated and substantially parallel to one another and a closed position wherein the first set and second set of double jaws are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another;  
 at least one articulation segment on each jaw of the first set and second set of double jaws such that the first set and second set of double jaws may be positioned in a U- or V-shaped configuration when in an articulated position;  
 a plurality of fenestration on at least one jaw of the first set and second set of double jaws allowing suturing through the first set and second set of double jaws;  
 a double handle assembly operatively connected to at least one of the first set and second set of double jaws such that the jaws may move between the opened and closed positions relative to the motion of the double handle assembly;  
 the double handle assembly having a locking mechanism allowing ease of engagement of the first set and second set of double jaws between the opened and closed positions;  
   passing a distal end of the laparoscopic surgical clamp into an opening of a patient's body cavity;    probing the patient's tissue by moving the first set and second set of double jaws between the opened and closed positions;    selecting tissue appropriate for being occluded with the laparoscopic surgical clamp and suturing;    clamping the tissue with the laparoscopic surgical clamp;    passing at least one elongated suture into the patient's body cavity with a laparoscopic grasper;    threading the elongated suture through the plurality of fenestration of at least one of an upper portion of the first set and second set of double jaws;    puncturing the patient's tissue with the elongated suture;    threading the elongated suture through the plurality of fenestration of at least one of a lower portion of the first set and second set of double jaws; and    clipping each end of the elongated suture on the upper and lower portions of the first set and second set of double jaws for securing the patient's tissue in a compressed position.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suturing remains in place for hemostasis after resection of the patient's tissue and removal of the laparoscopic surgical clamp.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture is configured as a tube-like member having an opening therethrough allowing compression and fixation by a plurality of clips applied across the suture.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the suture having an opening therethrough may include a curvature to allow closure or compression of a lesion on same surface.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture includes a pointed end for puncturing through the patient's solid organ parenchyma.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture includes a narrow and solid pointed tip such that the suture may be introduced into the patient's tissue as a needle.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture is fabricated from an absorbable material such as a polyglycolic polymer.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture is about 1.5-2 mm in diameter and about 10 cm in length.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture is capable of puncturing through the entire thickness of the patient's tissue allowing closure and pressure on same tissue plane.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein further compression of the suture against the patient's tissue may be achieved by reapplying the clip and cutting off the excess length of the suture and discarding the earlier clip.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture may be cut by laparoscopic scissors and be adjusted to a desired length.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture end is expandable allowing fixation within the parenchyma of the patient's solid organ.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suture may be configured in a curved shaped allowing closure and pressure on same tissue plane.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each end of the elongated suture on the upper and lower portions of the first set and second set of double jaws is clipped with a clip applicator.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suturing prevents the surgical clamp from slipping off a cut edge of organ tissue.  
   
   
       16 . A method of occluding a patient's organ tissue during a minimally invasive surgical procedure, comprising: 
 providing a laparoscopic surgical clamp;    passing a distal end of the laparoscopic surgical clamp into an opening of a patient's body cavity;    probing the patient's tissue by moving a first set and second set of double jaws of the laparoscopic surgical clamp between an open and closed position;    selecting tissue appropriate for being occluded with the laparoscopic surgical clamp and suturing;    clamping the tissue with the laparoscopic surgical clamp;    passing at least one elongated suture into the patient's body cavity with a laparoscopic grasper;    threading the elongated suture through a plurality of fenestration of at least one of an upper portion of the first set and second set of double jaws;    puncturing the patient's tissue with the elongated suture;    threading the elongated suture through the plurality of fenestration of at least one of a lower portion of the first set and second set of double jaws; and    clipping each end of the elongated suture on the upper and lower portions of the first set and second set of double jaws with a clip applicator for securing the patient's tissue in a compressed position.    
   
   
       17 . A method of suturing a patient's organ tissue with a laparoscopic surgical clamp for soft tissue repair during a minimally invasive surgical procedure, comprising: 
 providing a laparoscopic surgical clamp, comprising: 
 an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;  
 a first set and a second set of double jaws connected to the distal end of the elongated shaft and moveable relative to one another, the first set and second set of double jaws comprising:  
 an opened position wherein the first set and second set of double jaws are separated and substantially parallel to one another and a closed position wherein the first set and second set of double jaws are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another;  
 at least one articulation segment on each jaw of the first set and second set of double jaws such that the first set and second set of double jaws may be positioned in a U- or V-shaped configuration when in an articulated position;  
 a plurality of fenestration on at least one jaw of the first set and second set of double jaws allowing suturing through the first set and second set of double jaws;  
 a double handle assembly operatively connected to at least one of the first set and second set of double jaws such that the jaws may move between the opened and closed positions relative to the motion of the double handle assembly;  
 the double handle assembly having a locking mechanism allowing ease of engagement of the first set and second set of double jaws between the opened and closed positions;  
   passing a distal end of the laparoscopic surgical clamp into an opening of a patient's body cavity;    probing the patient's tissue by moving the first set and second set of double jaws between the open and closed positions;    selecting tissue appropriate for being occluded with the laparoscopic surgical clamp and suturing;    clamping the tissue with the laparoscopic surgical clamp;    passing at least one elongated suture into the patient's body cavity with a laparoscopic grasper;    threading the elongated suture through the plurality of fenestration of at least one of an upper portion of the first set and second set of double jaws;    puncturing the patient's tissue with the elongated suture;    threading the elongated suture through the plurality of fenestration of at least one of a lower portion of the first set and second set of double jaws; and    clipping each end of the elongated suture on the upper and lower portions of the first set and second set of double jaws with a clip applicator for securing the patient's tissue in a compressed position.